Gaston County Schools challenges sex abuse lawsuit, NC SAFE Child Act
Gaston County Schools claims a lawsuit filed against the district last year isn’t constitutional.
Represented by Lanier Law Group, the victims filed the lawsuit in the same year that Senate Bill 199 – a new law also referred to as the SAFE Child Act that better protects children from sexual abuse – took effect. SAFE Child Act expires on Dec. 31, 2021.
North Carolina’s SAFE Child Act gives victims the opportunity to revive their claims that were previously time barred – in this case by N.C. General Statute 1-52 – said Lisa Lanier of Lanier Law Group.
Students at Gaston County Schools have yet another choice in educational programs and pathways.
Denise McLean, Gaston County Schools’ executive director of student support services, recently announced the launch of the Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences – a healthcare-driven high school with four- and five-year pathways – ahead of the 2021-22 school year.
It’s the school districts 21st student choice program ever to be offered.
Students can earn their high school diploma, as well as an associate degree from Gaston College, while sticking to one of a number of concentrations, which include nursing, human services, human services technology, pre-medicine, biotechnology and medical office administration.
Pita Wheel reviving Dallas location, adding patio
Gaston County diners can soon find hot pitas and cold craft beer at two locations.
Pita Wheel headed by Christopher Davis plans to reopen its Dallas location, which it vacated in 2020 ahead of the opening of a full-service location in downtown Gastonia.
Davis’ goal was always to open a full-service version of his famed pita restaurant. He didn’t intend to rekindle operations in Dallas, but like the old saying goes: if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.
Even through the pandemic, business remained superb in Dallas.
“Dallas has been good to us. We’ve been good to Dallas. So I think people will appreciate the fact that we’re coming back,” Davis said.
Officers at Gaston County Police Department were called to service by residents 40,707 times in 2020.
The department covers roughly 270 square-miles of unincorporated areas with Gaston County and serves about 90,000 residents, though Gaston County Police’s Criminal Investigations Unit and K9 units regularly assist other local police departments.
Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement, a division of the police department, handles animal-related calls for all of Gaston County’s municipalities. The division also houses and cares for animals brought to the animal shelter on Wren Turnpike in Gastonia.
Of those 40,707 calls in 2020, Gaston County Police officers responded to some locations more than others, including several apartment complexes and private homes, Dollar General in south Gastonia, The Barnyard Flea Market in Dallas and North Gaston High School.